Attachment for a racing shell



Jan. 12, 193?, I Q 5 WALSH I 2,067,218

ATTACHMENT FOR A RACING SHELL Filed June 10, 1956 v lNVENTOR BY CHARLE sS. WALSH.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 3'70 0. G. 757) The present invention relatesbroadly to a rac ing shell and more particularly to a deflector plate orvane attachment therefor.

An object of the invention is to provide an attachment to be placedoutboard near the gunwale of a racing shell to prevent water enteringthe shell when being propelled through rough water.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a means by which aracing shell may be prepared quickly for rough water.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means of the characterdescribed whereby the over-all weight of a racing shell to which it isattached is reduced to a minimum, and which does not require continualadjustment or attention after being installed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide deflector platesor vanes for a racing shell that are simple in construction, easy tomanufacture and install, inexpensive in cost of manufacture, and thatare strong and durable.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as will behereinafter more fully described.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part ofthis specification in which like reference characters indicatecorresponding parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a portion of a racing shell showing the attachment of thepresent invention in operative position,

Fig. 2 is an under side of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a non-assembled view of the attachment with its several partsin perspective.

A racing shell commonly used by athletes is a light, frail craft thatrides very low in the water. It is not an infrequent occurrence for oneof these craft to be swamped by the shipping water when it encountersrough water. By placing deflector plates or vanes on each side of theshell at approximately each station of the crew, the possibility ofshipping water is reduced to a minimum. It is important, however, thatthe weight of the plates be as light as possible, yet that they bestrong enough to withstand bufieting by the force of the Water, so it isdesirable that they be made of a light durable material, such as dural,copper plate, tin or sheet iron. Although I have illustrated in thedrawing the plates as being triangular, it is to be understood thatother desirable designs or shapes may be used.

To best accomplish the purpose of the invention each of the deflectorplates or vanes 5 is' arranged on the diagonal with respect to the hull6 of the shell, by attaching it to the wash-board with its forward edgenear the top and its rear- 5 ward edge to the lower rigger arm I. Thisinclination will deflect downward any wave that is as high as thegunwale itself, thus prevent water from entering the shell.

One of the advantages of the invention is the 10 rapidity and ease withwhich the plates may be attached to the shell, and after being installedthey require no adjustment or attention. Each of the plates has anupturned or flanged edge 9 through which ordinary wood screws I0, orbolts, or other suitable fastening elements, pass into a bar I I ofsuitable material interposed between the up-turned edge and the shell toserve as a reinforcement. This is desirable, because repeated removaland insertion of the plate attaching screws into the hull or wash-boardof the shell will have a tendency to enlarge the screw holes therebypermitting leakage therethrough, but by first attaching the bar to theshell and then the plate to the bar leakage is prevented. 5

As may be seen more clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawing, each of the platesis provided with a rolled edge 12 extending at substantially a rightangle from the flanged edge. This rolled edge is adapted to embrace thelower side of the arm I of the rigger to provide a support for the platealong this edge and to stabilize it against the pressure of the watercontacting with the under side of the plate. It is fastened to the armby a tie 13 passing through an eyelet I4 in a corner of the plate andaround the arm.

It will be understood that the above description and accompanyingdrawing comprehend only the general and preferred embodiment of myinvention and that various changes in construction, proportion andarrangement of parts may be made within the scope of the appended claimsWithout sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a racing shell having riggers extending outwardlytherefrom, deflector plates secured to the shell and arms of the riggersand inclined downwardly from fore to aft for deflecting waterdownwardly. 55

2. In combination with a racing shell having 3. In combination with aracing shell having riggers extending outwardl'ytherefrom, deflectorriggers extending outwardly therefrom, deflector plates mounted thereon,each of said plates being plates mounted thereon, each of the plateshavprovided with a rolled edge to embrace an arm of ing an upturned edgefor attachment to the shell.

5 the rigger, and means of attachment for the plate to the rigger arm.CHARLES S. WALSH.

